In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Ver. 1. In the beginning] Here this heavenly eagle, John the Divine, soars at first out of sight (ο θεολογος κατ εξοχην). Here doth God detonate ab alto, thunder from on high, saith Calvin. St Austin stands amazed at the mystical divinity here delivered. This barbarian (said the philosopher, concerning our evangelist) hath comprised more stupendous stuff in three lines than we have done in all our voluminous discourses. a Happy had it been for him if he had been made, by this first chapter, of an atheist, a true Christian, as learned Junius was. b But he only admired it, and so left it where he found it; as too many do the Word at this day.
Was the Word] Personal, and enunciative. Isaiah, Isaiah 6:1, saw him on the throne, and heard him speaking; Daniel, Daniel 8:13, calleth him Palmoni hammedabber, " that excellent speaker," and asketh him of the vision; the Syriac interpreter here calleth him Meltha, " the Word uttered;" and the Chaldee, Pithgam Adonai, "the Lord, the Word."
And the Word was with God] Which sweetly sets forth his co-eternity and co-existency with the Father (το συναιδιον και ενυποστατον), saith Chrysostom. Moscopulus renders it, secundum Deum according to God, as being the express image of the Father. Others, ad Deum; to God, as importing a deliberation and conference of the Father and the Son.
And the Word was God] θεος, without an article: hence the Arians cavil that the Son is not God co-equal, but a secondary God, inferior to the Father. See Galatians 1:3. The Father is also called θεος, without an article: therefore this follows not. This whole Gospel is a continuate demonstration of Christ's Deity, which began to be denied, while this evangelist lived, by Ebion, Cerinthus, and other odious antichrists.
a Amel. Platonic. ap. Clem. Alex.
b Funccius ia Vita Sua, Operib. praefix.